Most likely that line-up was already finalized in the schedule. If A&E pulled them now, they'd be extremely hard-pressed to find enough material to fill those time slots, particularly material that would draw their viewers, and would satisfy their advertisers. Most likely, if A&E pulled this line-up they'd still have to pay Gurney Productions (the entity that employs Robertson, produces the show, and sells it to A&E - almost certainly retaining a cut of the intellectual property rights), and would probably have to pay penalties to their advertisers who would have purchased air time based on the show being run.

I think this whole kerfluffle has A&E scared shiite-less because they never saw the backlash coming. They are in major damage control mode over this and they will be lucky if they can walk any of this back. Hard to un-ring a bell....

I think this whole kerfluffle has A&E scared shiite-less because they never saw the backlash coming. They are in major damage control mode over this and they will be lucky if they can walk any of this back. Hard to un-ring a bell....

Yeah, I think A&E in their haste, failed to think through the likely audience loss.

Life was much more enjoyable, when such matters were not the subject of daily debate. Johnny Mathis could sing, and Rock Hudson could act.

Entertainment was for----for entertainment, and enjoyment. NOT for politics, or for religious battles.

Phil did NOT volunteer his answer, unsolicited. The question got asked, because we are no longer able to JUSY be entertained. We must be drawn into political and religious controversy.

The blame can be spread all around. It is what our society has become. We react to the drama.

I think this whole kerfluffle has A&E scared shiite-less because they never saw the backlash coming. They are in major damage control mode over this and they will be lucky if they can walk any of this back. Hard to un-ring a bell....

They're concerned about the immediate loss no doubt, but probably not so much the long-range impact.

Duck Dynasty is a faux reality show and as such, it is a show that will (like all other such shows) run its gamut and fade away on its own. E&E Network pre-existed the show and its programming wasn't particularly considered conservative in nature, so while DD probably succeeded in bringing a new demographic to the network, that new demographic probably came there strictly to watch that show with little bleed over to the rest of the programming. Their leaving will (IMHO) simply bring the show back down to revenues and market share prior to the inception of DD.

I think that while backlash has been vocal, the weight of it may not be as significant as we believe that it is.

Insofar as running the scheduled shows.

It's business.

Logged

“[Euthanasia] is what any State medical service has sooner or later got to face. If you are going to be kept alive in institutions run by and paid for by the State, you must accept the State’s right to economize when necessary …” The Ministry of Fear by Graham Green (New York: Penguin Books [1943] 2005, p. 165).